TrueCar ranks top 10 fuel-efficient cars; Toyota Prius leads the pack

2010 Toyota Prius – Click above for high-res image gallery

TrueCar has compiled its list of the top ten most fuel-efficient 2011 model year vehicles currently on the market and – unsurprise! – the Toyota Prius, the world's best-selling hybrid, leads the pack. TrueCars' selection hinged on fuel economy and annual gas costs, the latter of which was calculated based on driving 15,000 miles a year.

Let's break the list down. Of the top ten vehicles, nine were hybrids. The Lexus CT 200h finished in second place and the Honda Insight captured third. The Chevrolet Volt, the only plug-in model to make TrueCars' list, finished in sixth. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Elantra placed ninth. However, its rank is notable because it's the only non-hybrid vehicle that cracked the top ten. According to TrueCars, battery-powered vehicles, like the Nissan Leaf, were excluded from the list because "there is no cost associated with filling up a tank." Well, sure, but isn't that the whole point?

Anyway, Jesse Toprak, vice president of industry trends and insights at TrueCar, gives this recommendation to car buyers:

When purchasing a fuel-efficient vehicle, consumers should consider two factors – price and annual cost of fuel. If you're looking for the most fuel-efficient car, the Toyota Prius wins. If you're looking for the most cost-effective and fuel-efficient car, the Hyundai Elantra is the clear winner.

If you want to do your own math, then throw the Leaf into the mix. Click here for a detailed list of TrueCars' top ten most fuel-efficient cars.